Although there are no set values for traffic counts that would currently trigger road improvements, it is useful to monitor road traffic changes and patterns, which is done frequently with county traffic counters , the council said.
MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – The county council reviewed a draft of the municipality’s latest long-term infrastructure plan and forwarded the document to the 2023 budget deliberations.
The decision came by way of motion at the recent regular council meeting, held in person and on Zoom.
The plan includes proposed bridge projects, including 2023 projects such as the Dogpound Creek Bridge replacement in Carstairs ($1.13 million), the Rosebud River Bridge replacement in Didsbury ($940,000) and replacement of the Carstairs Sheep Coulee Bridge ($350,000).
Written by a committee of members of council, administration and staff, the plan brings together current and future priorities for roads, bridges and other infrastructure in the county and covers the period from 2023 to 2028.
“With the ever-increasing cost of capital projects, as well as the extended timeline to identify, design, plan and execute major capital projects, the need for a long-term strategic plan is paramount for the county,” indicates the map. .
“The purpose of this strategic plan is to collect all information beyond engineering studies regarding current and future infrastructure needs in Mountain View County and organize it into a single document to produce a long-term plan. This will allow for more efficient capital financing and will also promote the retention, expansion and growth of trade and industry in allocated areas identified in the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and Area Structure Plans (ASP) current.
The plan was developed with the participation of all county departments in the multidisciplinary committee.
“The committee agrees that the county’s current road network is adequate and in good condition for current traffic and community needs.”
The plan identifies suggested capital investments in infrastructure, prioritizing projects that are expected to be completed over the next five to 10 years, and identifies projects that have been designed but have been postponed with the reason for the postponement.
“The board ultimately has the final say on which projects will be included in the approved budget.”
The committee reached a number of conclusions set out in the plan, including the following:
• It is not recommended to pre-invest in infrastructure that could support high-density development in areas identified in the policy (CDM and ASP) but which have not yet received approval. Although the county has a strong policy regarding directing commercial/industrial and high density residential development to specific areas of the county, it is up to the developers to purchase the land and propose development to the county. This means that the timing of development will always be uncertain.
• All county road upgrades will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A comparative analysis and a budget are required for each project.
• Each project will be assessed on the basis of a risk analysis. This should include criteria such as: the number and size of wetlands in the area; environmental and improved timelines due to the new framework; the availability of qualified contractors to perform the work; the amount of land acquisition required for the project; the availability of gravel and borrow material; timeline for provincial approval process and grant application process, if applicable.
• Road infrastructure upgrades should focus on high traffic areas and those that provide access to towns where county residents access services. Although there are no set values for traffic counts that would currently trigger road improvements, there is much to be gained from monitoring changes and patterns in road traffic, which is done frequently with traffic counters. county traffic.
The committee also said that “the reserves will be used so that in most cases the county will not need to use long-term funding to carry out the initiatives. This means that when we learn of a major future initiative, the county will begin to build reserve funds over a number of years so that it has raised funds in advance to pay for the initiative.
“Current taxpayers will pay for future initiatives, but will enjoy the benefits of past initiatives and the benefit of earning rather than paying interest. However, the need to resort to long-term financing does not necessarily have to lead to the rejection of an initiative.
